Cool Cape May 2021-22

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The to of Cape May
A famed lighthouse, a world-class
amusement park, a nationally acclaimed
zoo, wineries, breweries and distilleries,
whale-watching, parasailing, paddleboarding
and a wonderful living history museum.
Every day doesn’t have to be a beach day...
ALCOHOL Cape May is becoming a
dream destination for wine enthusiasts, and
for good reason. The peninsula’s climate
and geography, according to The New York
Times, help produce “one of the longest and
best growing seasons for European vinifera
wine grapes on the Eastern Seaboard.” In
addition to seven wineries located in the
area, the Cape is also home to Nauti Spirits
Distillery, which grows ingredients on an
adjacent 60-acre farm. And no stay on the
Cape would be complete without a stop at
one of our breweries, many of which utilize
local ingredients. Cape May Brewing Company,
at Cape May Airport, has won multiple
awards since its inception in 2011, while
Gusto Brewing Company is winning fans at
its new brewery in North Cape May.
BEACHES Second in the nation and ninth
in the world — that’s how Cape May’s
beaches stack up, according to TripAdvisor.
Want gnarly surf? Check out Poverty,
on the north end of Beach Avenue, or plant
your chair at the Cove on the south end
(great view of the lighthouse). Hoping to
witness some incredible natural phenomena,
like horseshoe crabs mating en masse?
Get thee to Higbee Beach on the island’s
northwest tip. Remember, tags are required
on all Beach Avenue beaches between
Memorial Day and Labor Day — separate
tags are required for Cape May Point. The
Cape May Beach Patrol, which hasn’t had a
drowning in its 110-year history, will provide
free surf chairs to people with restricted
mobility. All that’s left to do? Breathe in that
salt air and relax.
CONGRESS HALL You may know Congress
Hall as the place where Tina Fey and
Oprah have tucked into breakfast, and
Anne Hathaway has enjoyed cocktails, but
it’s also the oldest seaside hotel in America.
Built in 1816 by a man named Thomas
Hughes, it was so big locals thought it unviable
and called it Tommy’s Folly. Twelve
years later, the building was renamed Congress
Hall because of Hughes’ election to
Congress. Since then, four US presidents
have stayed there, including Benjamin Harrison,
who turned the building into the first
Summer White House. The hotel, which has
burned down twice, is now a hub of community
events centered on simple American
pleasures.
DOG FRIENDLY If dogs are a part of the
family, they should be part of the vacation,
too. Not a problem in Cape May, home to
a 1,500-square-foot dog park on Lafayette
Street. Rather bring your pet to the beach?
Check out Higbee on the Delaware Bay. As
for accommodations, the Boarding House,
Billmae Cottage, Marquis de Lafayette,
Blue Fish Inn, Madison Avenue Beach Club
and Beach Shack all cater to dogs, as do
several restaurants on the island. The Rusty
Nail even offers a doggy menu. Fair warning:
Dogs are not allowed on Washington Street
Mall or the beaches during summer.
EAGLES Cape May was recently named
the number two best birdwatching destination
in the world by National Geographic,
behind only South Georgia Island, located
east of Chile’s Cape Horn. You can expect
a “feathered fashion show,” according to
the story. In fact, this is the raptor capital
of North America, with ospreys, peregrine
falcons (the fastest animals on the planet)
and — yes — bald eagles frequenting our